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Community Violence Exposure, Conduct Problems, and Oppositional Behaviors Among Latino Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Academic Performance

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Abstract

Background

The current literature examining how community violence exposure (CVE) differentially relates to oppositional behaviors and conduct problems, as well as factors that impact this link, is limited. Further research is needed to examine these relationships to understand the etiologies of these disorders and what factors can buffer the effects of CVE, particularly among Latino youth.

Objective

Accordingly, the current study examined relations between CVE, conduct problems, and oppositional behaviors, and whether academic performance moderated these effects.

Methods

The researchers examined these relations in a sample of 144 Latino adolescents (54% male, ages 14–19). Participants completed a survey that included self-report measures on CVE and conduct problems. Participants’ teachers reported on oppositional behaviors and academic performance.

Results

Results indicated that CVE was associated with conduct problems, but not oppositional behaviors. Additionally, academic performance was found to moderate the association between CVE and conduct problems, such that at low levels of academic performance, CVE was associated with more conduct problems.

Conclusion

CVE was uniquely associated with conduct problems and not oppositional behaviors. Additionally, results of the current study contributes to the literature by suggesting CVE is associated with conduct behaviors when academic performance is low.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Child Psychology Program, Dole Human Development Center, Room 2006, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Jonathan L. Poquiz & Paula J. Fite

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  1. Jonathan L. Poquiz
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  2. Paula J. Fite
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Correspondence to Jonathan L. Poquiz.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Poquiz, J.L., Fite, P.J. Community Violence Exposure, Conduct Problems, and Oppositional Behaviors Among Latino Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Academic Performance. Child Youth Care Forum 47, 377–389 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-017-9434-x

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